Research Associate in Low Carbon Cement

Applications are encouraged for a Research Associate position as part of a four-year research project that aims to develop and optimise limestone calcined clay cement technology using abundant local clay resources in the UK. The project is funded by EPSRC and is titled “Engineered UK clays for production of low-carbon cements” (https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/W022583/1). This research project involves academic investigators from 3 institutions (Imperial College London, University of Leeds, British Geological Survey), and various industrial and academic partners in the UK and internationally.

Duties and responsibilities

You will be responsible for quantifying the relationships between reactivity, reaction kinetics and microstructural features governing the performance of clay-blended cementitious systems. Long-term durability assessment of reinforced concretes against corrosion induced by chloride ingress and carbonation will be carried out. The research will require the use of advanced experimental techniques to study reaction kinetics, phase assemblage, pore structure, mass transport and corrosion kinetics for a range of mix compositions and exposure conditions. This may involve thermodynamic modelling of phase assemblage, and multi-scale modelling of mass transport and corrosion processes. Data will be used to obtain a complete understanding of system chemistries, define replacement envelopes and formulate predictive service-life models based on corrosion to support field trials and life-cycle assessment.

The role will require regular contributions to a variety of academic tasks, including management of research projects, positively interacting and communicating with internal and external stakeholders, developing research proposals, supervising Masters and PhD students, demonstrating research excellence and leadership to more junior members of the Research Group, etc.

You will be based at the world-leading Imperial Centre for Infrastructure Materials (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/infrastructure-materials/), and collaborate with five postdocs and several PhD students also working in the project consortium, at Imperial and the University of Leeds. They will thus receive strong mentoring in a highly stimulating academic research environment, with access to internationally leading academics, industrial partners, research facilities, and networks.

Essential requirements

• Hold a PhD in engineering, science or a closely related field, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience


• Experience of concrete technology


• Basic understanding of material properties


• Productive track record of publishing high-quality papers in peer-reviewed journals


• Well organised, attention to detail, critical thinking, and ability to work independently

Further information

This vacancy has an anticipated start date on 1 July 2023, although this date is flexible. This is a fixed term post for 12 months, with the possibility of further extension.

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Hong Wong at hong.wong@imperial.ac.uk.

Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Briony Webb at b.webb@imperial.ac.uk.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

Further information is available in the job description.

• JD PDRA EPSRC Apr 23.pdf